Transmission brake servomotor



May 19, 1953 s. v. HETTINGER, JR 2,638,750

TRANSMISSION BRAKE sERvoMoToR Filed March 24, 1950 Patented May 19, 14.953

UNITED g STATES PATENT OFFICE A'lltAliTSlVllSSION BRAKE SERVOMOTOR Sidney VVHettinger, Jr., Westchester, Ill.. as i signor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago.

` Ill.,acorporation of Illinois Application March 24, 1950, Serial No. 151,793 c z Claims. (icl. cil- 97) This. inventionrelates to a transmission brake. and more particularly to a servomotor for a transmission brake. i

In automotive transmissions of. the type em- DlOyng planetary "aear'sctaithas lbecome the general practice to employ a drum type brake to hold an element of the planetary gear stationary to serve as a reaction member. matic transmissions, application of the brake or brakes is under the control of valves which operate automatically in response to changes in vehcle speed and torque load, as .reflected by the governor and by depression of, the accelerator pedal. In use, thehrake friction surfaces wear and it has been foundJt/hat it isdlfcult to provide smooth engagementof the brakes after sub.

stantial wear without resorting to unduly complicated valving mechanisms. Thus, as shown in the co-pending application of H. G, English. Serial No. 149,049 filed March 1l, 1950, an improved transmission brake actuating` system may be provided including means for taking up the slack resulting from wear-prior to application of engaging pressure to Vthe brake bands.v This de sirable result is achieved by 'employing two pistons, the smaller one of which moves in advance of the other to take up the slack and thereafter, by means of a hydraulic locking arrangement, is caused to move in unison with the second and larger pistonto apply braking force to the brake bands. The present invention isdirected to this type of 'improved"'servo' mechanism. y

An object ofthe present invention is'to provide a new and improved"transmission lorake servcmotor, and moreparticularly an `improved hydraulic locking mechanismfo'r a servomotor.

A further object'of` the present invention is to` provide a new andalinpro'v'ed dual servo'motorsystem for actuating a pair of brake'bands associated with a drum or 'shaft' simultaneously and with areas arranged coaxiallyandprovided withhyl draulic locking means for-permitting the smaller area piston to movefin laclvtmceoi' the larger-V area piston to take up slackand for thereafter' closing to cause the two pistons to move in'unison in responsetowiurther application of hw draulic pressure. -More 'particular1y,..the hydraulic locking- .mechanisrn comprises a tonne# valve arranged to be normallyunseatcd when the pistons arein the rest position-to permit-application of fluid pressureto the smaller. piston:c @Upon-1 f' movement lof the smaller piston to take up slack In such autofollowed `hy movement of the larger piston as the pressure `in the piston chambers increases the Doppet valve seats, trapping fluid pressure in the l piston chamber associated with the smaller piston and-preventing relative movement thereafter be-` tween the two pistons.

Other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description `taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a transverse. sectional view of a transmission brake dual servomotor constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention .showing the position of the pistons during applil 5.

cationcf engaging pressure to the bands; and

Fig;v 2 isa detail view of the servomotor showngthe position of the pistons prior to application ,ofpressure to either of the pistons.

V Vouter periphery `of a brake drum designated generally'at 8. The drum l may .be ilxed to a suitable shaft (not shown) the rotation of whichis controlled through the Vbrake mechanism. As the brake hands wear due to use, either they must be readiu'sted or some provision made for taking up the slack prior to engagement of the bands in braking relation. The servomotor of the present invention avoids the difliculties and vexpense involved in making periodic adjustments by pro viding automatic means for taking up slack.. This is particularly important in automatic transmissions wherethe. brakes are energized automatically; here wear throws off the critical relations and may result in too sudden or delayed engagement of the bands, thereby producing jerky operation of the transmission.

lReferring now to the dual servomotor mechanisrn` of this invention, it will be seen that the mechanism is enclosed in a housing |01 which may be oi generally cylindrical configuration and has formed?v therein on the right side, as'viewed in these iigures, a first servomotor chamberV Il and on the-left 'side a second servomotor chamber I2. As. lootlr'l servomotors `are substantiallyiidentical, only the-.rght'servomotor will be ydescribedin detalL. the f description of the right motor being equally applicable to the left. :`v

piston head and disposed coaxially of the piston' chamber II. The sleeve I6 defines at its inner wall a second chamber II in which is slidably .iournalled a second or slack take-up piston I6. Piston I8 is movable relatively to piston I3 and means are provided in accordancel withthis invention to permit initial movement :of the piston I8 in advance of piston I3 to provide'the afore-V mentioned slack take-up. Thereafter, further Vance of piston I3, but an equally important function is to assure rapid return of both pistons to the rest position upon release of fluid pressure.

In order to prevent relative movement of the piston I8 with respect to the piston I3 after the desired slack take-up has occurred, there is provided a poppet valve designated 36 which, when open, permits fluid to reach the-smaller piston I8 but which, when seated,. prevents return of fluid from the piston I 8, thereby in effect hy- .draulically locking piston I8 to piston I3. particularly, the poppet valve 36 comprises a head portion 31 of disc-like conguration and a stem relative movement of the pistons is prevented, and the pistons move forward in unison to cause engagement of the associated brake band.

The rearwardly extending portion I6 of pistonP I3 is 'journalled 'at its right end portion in an annular retaining plate 26 which'is held within the right end of `chamber II by a suitable retaining ring 2I carried in a groove 22 formed inv1 the inner periphery of the right end of'chamber II. The inner edge of retainer member is bent inwardly, that is,` to the left.as indicated at 23, to provide a suitable journal or bearing surface for the outer peri-phery of 'tubular portion I6 of piston I3.v o l The annular plate 20 also serves as a retainer or ystop for the right ends of `a ypair of heavy springs 24 and 25 disposed in the annular chamber .26 provided between `the outer periphery of tubular portion I6 and the inside wall of the housing Iil.v The left ends of springs 24 and 25 bear against the right side of the 4outer portion of piston .I3 and, thus, urge. piston I3 to the left againsta'stop provided by an inwardly `extendingridge 21 yformed about. the interior of the midvportion of. housing. I0. In some cases, a

single heavy spring may be employed instead of the two springs 24 and 25, the twosprings being used because this arrangement facilitates obtaining the desired resiliency characteristics.

The piston I8Y has extending from the right side thereof a` piston shaft 30 which maybe integrally formed therewith andthe -rightwardly extending portion of shaft. 30 is slidably supportedby a second annular `member 3I carried` by the'right end of tubular portion I6. of piston I3. tion by a splitring 32 mounted on the right end of tubular portion I6 .in conventional manner. The inner edgeof retainer member 3I is flanged outwardly, that is, bent to the right, to `providevv a `suitable bearing surface for the piston shaft 36. In order to urge the piston IB to the left to the rest position, a third spring 33 is provided, the right end of spring 33 bearing against the left side of retainer member 3| and the left end of spring 33 bearing against-the right `side of the The primary function of these springs is to prof vide this initial movement of pisipn' I8 r`in ad The annular member 3I is retained in posiabut. The thickness of annular ridge 21 formed 38journalled. in an aperture 40 formed through .the center of the head of piston I3 and preferably right end of the passage 43 terminating at a point intermediate the base of shoulder 42 and.f

the right `end of aperture 4I). When pressure is supplied. to the servomotor, pressure is communicated to the under side of poppet valve 36 Y In the operation of` this servo mechanism, fluid pressure may be ad-..y mitted to the housing IIJ through a port 44, lo-

through this passage .43.

cated in the mid portion of the housing and arranged to communicate pressure simultaneously to both the right and the left servomotors, Y.

The poppet valve 36 is normally urged to closed position by. a flat spring 45 which is xed at its- .mid portion to the left end of valve stem 38 and the end portions of Which are bent to the right so as to bear against the outer portions of the' left side of piston I3, thus tending to move valve 36 to the left to closed position.` ASpring 45-a associated with. valve stem 38-a of the left servoend of valve stem 38 maybe made somewhat smaller than a suitable aperture formed through 'the fiat spring 45 to permit inserting the end of the valve stem in the flat spring aperture and,`

then the terminal end of thevalve stem is swaged over the left side of the spring to hold curely in position on the valve stem.

When the servomotors are not energized, but are in the rest position as shown in Fig. 2, then the inner ends, that is, the opposed ends of the valve stems 38 and 38-a of the two poppet valves 36 and 36-a respectively of the two servomotors about the mid portion of housing I0 and the configuration of the opposed sides of the two main pistons I 3 and I 3-a are selected with reference to the length of the two poppet valve stems so that `in the rest position the ends of the stems will abut suiiciently tocause both poppet valves to be unseated. The relatively slight spring pressure provided by the flat springs 45 and 45-a is readily overcome by the larger springs 24, 25 and 33 and 2441, 25-a and 33-a so that the springs 45 and 45-a arenot a factor in preventing unseating of the poppet valves.

Thus, at the moment fluid pressure is lfirst .applied i9 the servomotors through the port 44,

More

assenso' the. short passages 43 and ,4t-c formed through the pistons L3 and l3.-`a are eitectiye to communicate pressure. to the inner or slack.. take-up iiistcnsv 18,: and tti-c. As explained nereinbefore.. because of the. use oi the. heavier springs 4211, and 2.5,. and .Z4-a and' ZE-a., 4as` compared with` the selected strength or springs. 33` and 33i` the. slack taker-un pistons I8. and i-a. will move outwardly adyance of the. pistons I3 and 'li-a.- `This initial advance movement or the inner pistons I8, and [8.-c is. elective to take. up the. slack, that is. to cause initial engagement of the brake bands 6.24161 1, with title. drum t. As. the. pistons i8 and taf-,a move outwardly, they will, of course, encounter resistance increasing sharply as the ensagement. of the bands with the drum begins. This resistance supplernentsY the, spring resistance provided by the springs 3.3. and 33,-a in retarding further advance of the slack take-up pistons and at the same time increasing fluid pressure in the mid portion of the housing It) becomes eiective. to overcome the resistance or springs Mend 25 and 24.-.a. and 2.5.-a and to move, the primary pistons L3, and IM outwardly. As soon as the primary pistons have moved outwardly, that in opposite directions, a suicient distance to permit the poppet valves. 3,5 and 36-a to seat, it will be evident that fluid will be trapped within the chamber 45 defined yby the left side of piston I8 the. right. sidev of piston I|3 and the inner wallvof sleeve portion I6., and:` at substantially the same time within the chamber 4541 defined by the right side of piston [z8-4t, the left side of piston I'sj-a and the inner wall of sleeve portion IEW-ar, This trapping of fluid pressure hydraulically locks the pistons I8 and IB-(z to the pistons I3 and I3-a respectively and continued application of pressure to the pistons I3 and I3-a will, therefore, cause the two pistons to move forward in unison, applying engaging pressure to the associated brake bands.

Brake engaging force is applied to the lower brake band 1 from the right piston shaft 3l through a lever arm 41, the lower end of which is engaged by the right end of piston shaft 30. Lever arm 41 is pivotally supported adjacent its upper end on a stub shaft or post 50 and has affixed thereto a short crank arm I which, when the lever arm 41 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, also moves in a counterclockwise direction to urge upwardly a strut 52 bearing at its upper end against a lug 53, integrally formed with the right end of brake band 1. The lower end of strut 52 is provided with a recess or notch 54 in which is received the rounded upper end of a threaded member 55 carried by the short crank arm 5 I. By suitably threading the member 55 in the arm 5I the degree of engagement of the brake band may be closely adjusted. A lock nut 56 is provided for holding the adjusted position. The left end of brake band 1 is provided with an anchor lug 51 which may be suitably secured thereto or integrally formed. therewith and the anchor lug bears against a projection 60 which may be integrally formed with the bra-ke housing 6I. Thus, movement of the strut 52 upwardly with the left end of the brake band 1 held stationary by the anchor 51 will cause the brake band to wrap around the lower portion of drum 8.

Engagement of the upper brake band 6 is effected in a generally similar manner by movement of the left piston shaft Btl-a, to the left, the left end of piston shaft 30-a bearing against the lower portion of a lever arm 62, the upper s i r.

portion of which is pYota-lly supported on a stub shaft 63 carried by the brake housing. Clockwise movement of the lever arm 62 causes a short crank arm 64. projecting to the right, to. engage. at its under side the `upper end of a screw member U15., similar to the member 55, Screw 55` is` threaded .in the lower end o'f a strut 66, the upper end of which is connected to the left end of upper drum B. y Thcbrake linkage arrangement shown and described here is generally similar to that shown 'in the above referenced application of CilE English. y,

In the event that there is vsomeleakage of fluid pressuraeither throughzthe poppet valves `or hast the packing 34 or :i4-fr or past the packing M or I4-a, it `will be apparent that `each primary piston. I3 orV IS-a, `so long as 'it is subjected to iluid pressure, will move outwardly to make up for the fluid lost and, thus, maintain the desired engaging pressure on the brake bands.

In order to permit free movement of the pistons with respectto the retaining plates 20 and 3| of the right motor and 2010l and 3ilof the left motor. each of the plates` of each motor is. provided with one or more small porting apertures 12 and 13. respectively to prevent trapping of fluid between the pistons and these plates.

Upon release of fluid pressure, that is, for example, upon connecting port 44 to the sump or discharge line of the system, the springs 24, 25 and 33 and 24-a, 25-a and 33-a, aided by the tendency of the brake bands themselves to release, will cause a rapid return of the pistons to the rest position. The outer or main pistons, being subjected to greater force by virtue of the two springs associated with each of these pistons, as compared with the one spring associated with each of the slack take-up pistons, will tend to move to the rest position in advance of the slack take-up pistons, thus causing unseating of the poppet valves 36 and 36-a and permitting exhaust of the fluid trapped between the pistons I8 and I8-a and the pistons I3 and I3-a respectively as the pistons I8 and I8-a are moved inwardly by the springs 33 and 33-a,

While this invention has been described in connection with a dual servomotor system, a single motor may be provided employing the principles of this invention by merely omitting either the right or the left servomotor and providing a stop on the brake motor housing end wall engageable by the end of the poppet valve stem so that in the rest position the poppet valve will be unseated.

Where herein the various parts of this invention have been referred to as being located `in a right or a left position, it will be understood that this is done solely for the purpose of facilitating description and that such references relate only to the relative positions of the parts as shown in the accompanying drawing. While but one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be .made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A servomotor for a brake actuating mechanism comprising a housing, a piston slidably journalled in said housing and shiftable relatively thereto, means including said housing and one side of said piston defining a rst pressurechamber, a sleeve portion extending from the opposite side of said piston coaxially of said housing and having a substantially lesser diameter than said housing, a second piston journalled within said sleeve and capable of relative axial movement with respect thereto and with respect to vsaid rst piston member, a second piston chamber being deiined by said opposite side of said :[irst piston, the adjacent side of said second piston and the inner Wall of said sleeve portion, means for supplying uid pressure to said housing and to said iirst chamber, said rst piston having a passage formed therethrough for communicating pressure from said first chamber to said second chamber, a poppet valve slidably journalled in said first piston effective when seated to close said passage, said poppet valve having a stem por. tion extending out of said first piston, and a sheet metal spring having an edge portion resiliently abutting said iirst piston and a central portion secured to said poppet valve stem portion for urging said poppet valve vto seated position.

2. A servo-motor including a housing, a pair of pistons slidably journalled in said housing and shiftable relatively thereto, means including said housing and one side of each of said pistons dening a first pressure chamber, a sleeve portion on each of said pistons and respectivelyv extending from the opposite sides of said pistons coaxially of said `housing and each of the sleeve portions having a substantially lesser diameter than said housing, a second pair of pistons respectively journalled within said sleeve portions and capable of relative axial movement with respect thereto, a pair of pressure chambers defined by said opposite sides of said first pair of pistons, the adjacent side of each of said second pair of pistons and the inner walls of said sleeve portions, means for supplying fluid pressure to said housing and to said first chamber, said rst pair of pistons each having a passage formed therethrough for communicating pressure from the iirst chamber to each of said other chambers, poppet valves slidably journalled in each of said iirst pair of pistons and effective when seated to respectively close said passages, said poppet valves each having a stem portion respectively extending out of said rst pair of pistons, and a. pair of sheet metal springs each having an edge portion resiliently abutting said iirst pair of pistons respectively and a control portion respectively secured to the poppet valve stem portions for urging said poppet valves to seated positions.

SIDNEY V. HE'IIINGER, JR.

` References Cited in the file of 4this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,865,105 Houplain June 28, 1932 2,170,851 Carroll Aug. 29, 1939 2,343,698 Parnell Mar. 7, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 521,980 Great Britain June 5, 1940 

